It is a rarity in college football to have the same starting quarterback for four consecutive seasons. Yet, in these unprecedented times, that will likely be the case for Penn State in 2022. The return of Sean Clifford in 2022 provides the Penn State offense with an experienced starter in an offense that will be looking to retool a few things on the ground and replace its leading receiver. Having a player who has been through the ups and downs of the offense could be encouraging, but the big question may be whether or not Clifford is merely standing in the way of the future.
Penn State’s quarterback situation is a unique one for the 2022 season and one that will surely be under the microscope every step of the way this offseason, beginning with spring football practices. And, for the first time in a long time, Penn State will be able to go into the spring with the same offensive coordinator and quarterback coach from the previous season. Mike Yurcich left some expectations unfulfilled in his first season with the Nittany Lions, but having a chance to work issues that arose in 2021 may be beneficial for Yurcich, Clifford, and the entire Penn State offense.
The return of Sean Clifford
Photo: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to the Outback Bowl, with players across Penn State’s roster declaring for an early departure to the NFL, Clifford announced he would be coming back for one final season, his sixth in Happy Valley. Clifford is one of the players taking advantage of an extra year of eligibility granted to every student-athlete by the NCAA as a result of the 2020 pandemic season. And it is probably a wise decision for Clifford to come back for another year.
Clifford got off to a more confident start to his 2021 season after an abysmal start to the 2020 season. Clifford cut down on turnovers and wasn’t forcing…
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